Mago Barca

Mago Barca (243 BC-203 BC) was a general of Carthage during the Second Punic War. He was the son of Hamilcar Barca and the brother of Hannibal and Hasdrubal Barca.

Biography
Mago was the third son of Hamilcar Barca and the younger brother of Hannibal and Hasdrubal Barca. Mago, Hasdrubal, Maharbal, Hanno the Elder, and Carthalo accompanied Hannibal on his campaign in Italy during the Second Punic War, and he led the Gallic infantry at the center of Hannibal's line at the decisive Battle of Cannae in 216 BC. He subdued several towns between Lucania and Bruttium before sailing back to Carthage, where he presented the rings of fallen Roman horsemen to the Carthaginian Senate, requesting reinforcements for Hannibal at the end of his speech. An army of 12,000 infantry, 1,500 cavalry, and 20 elephants was raised to assist Hannibal's campaign in Italy, but this army (led by Mago) was instead sent to Spain to reinforce Hasdrubal, while only a small force was sent to Italy. Mago and his brother Hasdrubal battled the House of Scipii's armies in Spain, and he aided in keeping the Hispanic tribes loyal to Carthage. In 211 BC, the brothers killed the Scipio brothers and destroyed the Roman armies in Spain, but Scipio Africanus' army would arrive in Spain to reconquer the peninsula. In 208 BC, after the Battle of Baecula, Mago left Spain to fight in Italy, but Marcus Silanus defeated and scattered Mago's army a year later. After a defeat at Ilipa in 206 BC, Mago retreated to Gades with the rest of his army, and he suffered severe losses during a raid on Cartagena, Spain. Upon returning to Gades, he crucified the city magistrates for treason after they locked the gates on him. Mago then led 15,000 men in an amphibious invasion of Italy in the summer of 205 BC, and he captured Genoa and held northern Italy for three years, warring with the mountain tribes and gathering troops. No general action was fought, however, and Mago was wounded in a battle in Cisalpine Gaul before being recalled to defend Carthage from a Roman assault. Unfortunately, he was shipwrecked and killed before he could return home.